Midday sunshine definitely isn’t ideal light for an outdoor photoshoot, but I can’t help but be so grateful for this wonderful weather we’re having lately. I’ve even seen a few daffodils and lambs sprinkled around. I know you all keep telling me it’s too early for Spring, but I’m telling you… It’s just peaking round the corner!!

Last week I visited Hayley and her very handsome Connemara x Arab, Barney, in Upminster, near Romford for a gorgeous sunny shoot. But even with the sun shining brightly, we managed to find some little pockets of dreamy, soft light to stand these guys in for their in-hand shots.

Barney and Hayley were really great fun to work with. Hayley was game for a laugh and Barney was such a cheeky chappy, so provided us with lots of entertainment. And obviously, he has the same name as my dog, so I already loved him before I even met him!

Hayley competes seventeen-year-old Barney in endurance events and she says that as soon as he turns up to the competitions he knows his job and does everything for her. She had lots of funny stories to tell, about them getting caught in the rain, going a little faster than they’re supposed to and having a great time on their travels. I always love learning about a new discipline and it sounds like Hayley and Barney have so much fun when they’re out on endurance rides.

These two have a great relationship. Hayley tells me that for a while, she only shared Barney two days a week and felt that they weren’t really bonding as much as she would have like and that she felt he didn’t really have much respect for her. (Apparently Barney can be a bit of a pickle!) So she made the decision to have him on full loan and that decision was clearly the right one, because I don’t know about before, but Barney quite obviously adores Hayley as much as she does him.

Hayley really wanted some shots of her sitting outside of Barney’s stable, to end with, and we had such a fun time capturing them. Although, she might beg to differ as Barney wasn’t all that gentle when polos were introduced into the mix, and I think Hayley ended up with her hair and face covered in slobber. But everyone ended up smiling and that’s what’s important.

Thanks for having me Hayley, and to Hayley’s friend Ellen, for her helping hands. And obviously, to Barney for being a super fun model. 😀

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